Rail system



June 6, 1967, R. H. MURDOCK BAIL SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 9, 1964 FIGS 6 f 9' m4 3 2 I G 5 5 I 7 J f A m m jfi w I, 3 r f 4 4 6 d mkqa L .a El

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RAIL SYSTEM Filed June '9. 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i? 6 so 40 I04 I; 39 L 39 '05 -90 1: FIG. 8 I00 QB 99 9| File IN VEN TOR ROBERT H. MURDOCK 7' ATTORNEYS United States PatentO 3,323,781 RAIL SYSTEM Robert H. Murdock, Kensiugton, Calif., assignor to American Metal Climax, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed June 9, 1964, Ser. No. 373,683 9 Claims. (Cl. 25667) This invention relates generally to a rail system, and more specifically to a hand railing system formed of interconnected railings and posts with necessary connectors for use as protective and hand railing along balconies, stairs, and the like, and which may be readily assembled from standardized extruded metallic components.

Recent technological advances in the metallurgical sciences have resulted in the increased use of strong, lightweight, and corrosion-resistant metals, such as aluminum, with or without anodizing, in the construction industries for many applications, such as railings, panels, and the like. The use of such metals in hand railings has become increasingly popular, because the railings are not only extremely strong and durable, but are adaptable to be constructed in various eye-pleasing designs and may be further provided with various attractive, colorful and maintenance-free finishes, such as anodizing and porcelain enamel.

However, the past structure and assembly of such metal railings was a time-consuming and consequently expensive process due to the various operations such as cutting, welding, fitting, polishing, and the like, which were required at the point of installation to provide the desired quality of railing. A dangerous disadvantage inherent in prior railings was due to the manner of assembly thereof in which fasteners, such as boltheads, screwheads, or the like, were exposed to cause injury to fingers and hands of a person, especially small children, traversing the railing. Furthermore, such exposed fasteners render the railing susceptible to tampering, vandalism, and public sabotage. One improved railing component which overcomes many of these disadvantages is disclosed in my co-pending application, Ser. No. 263,160, filed Mar. 6, 1963, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved railing system.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new hand railing system having a smooth, integral appearance which is quickly and easily assembled without excessive operations of drilling, tapping, cutting, polishing, or welding at the point of installation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a railing system which is quickly assembled with no exposed fasteners to provide a smooth and uninterrupted railing surface.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved railing. V

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved railing which is readily assembleable into a railing system with no exposed fasteners.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved means for locking a rail of a railing system to a supporting post.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved top connector for interconnecting a top railing with a supporting post, and wherein there are no exposed fasteners.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

Patented June 6, 1967 rail. The rail is provided with spaced lower wall portions extending toward each other from the lower end of the legs. An internal U-shaped part is disposed Within the rail section between the spaced lower wall portions and interconnecting the lower wall portions to provide a longitudinally extending T-shaped slot in the bottom of the rail. The slot is defined by the internal U-shaped portion and by additional longitudinally extending confronting ribs on the inside of the internal U-shaped part. Ad-

vantageously, the lower corner of the confronting edges of the spaced lower wall portions forming the neck of the T-shaped slot may be chamfered. The railing system may additionally include one or more open rails of generally inverted U-shape.

According to another feature of the present invention, there is provided an advantageous, top connector interconnecting the uppermost railing with the top of a post. In accordance with this aspect of the invention, the top connector includes an elongated slide member of somewhat inverted T-shaped cross section including a head and a shank. The shank is readily insertible between the ribs forming the T-slot in the bottom of the rail. Latch members are carried by the slide member and are also insertible through the neck of the T-slot and are pivotable within the head of the T-slot so as to look within the T- slot. Screws are provided to tighten the latch members and clamp the ribs forming the neck of the T-slot between the slide member and the latch members. Additionally,

wedge means are provided for securing the top connector their inner surface forming a camming surface. A tapered mandrel forming a cam is adapted to the wedge axially against the camming surfaces of the leaf member. The

mandrel may be wedged axially by means of a set screw extending through the slide and clamped prior to assembly of the slides with the rail.

Advantageously, the generally T-shaped slot in the bottom of the rail at its center line provides many combinations of uses to achieve the improved rail system according to the present invention. More specifically, the bottom slot allows for the positive locking of decorative panels to the underside of the top rail by means of a suitable filler piece slid into the slot and extending from one post to the next post. All fastenings to the filler piece are completely concealed within the filler and, therefore, within the slot, thus providing wholly-tamper-proof, swift connections. Additionally, the bottom T-slot allows for the use of the advantageous top clamp connecting the top rail to a post. Each of these fastening devices provides rapid means of positively fastening the mil with no part of the fastening device extending beyond the peripheral dimensions of the rail shape. Additionally, the top connector provides for connecting a rail to a post without re course to welding or exposed bracketing.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a railing system according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of a railing system according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of a railing system according to the present invention illustrating the railing system at the edges of stairs;

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view, drawn to a larger scale, of a rail according to the present invention, and taken along plane 44 of FIGURE 1, 2, or 3;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of another rail according to another embodiment of the present invention, and taken along plane 55 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of a typical round post according to the present invention, and taken along v line 66 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view of a typical square post according to another version of the present invention, and taken along line 77 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of atop railing to post connection, illustrating a top connector according to the present invention;

FIGURE 9 is a top plan view of the top connector of FIGURE 8; and

FIGURE 10 is a partially exploded side elevational view of a top connector of FIGURE 8.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to the embodiment of FIGURES 1, 4, and 6, there is illustrated a typical railing system according to the present invention. As therein illustrated, there is provided a plurality of interconnected rails 30, 31 and posts 32. The upper rail 30 is connected to the top of the post 32 by a top connector (not shown in FIG. 1), according to the present invention, while the intermediate rail 31 is connected to the post 32 by a suitable post clamp (not shown). The rails 30 and 31 and post 32 may be suitably formed of aluminum extrusion. In the embodiment of FIGURE 1, the posts 32 are hollow, round posts, as more clearly illustrated in FIGURE 6, having an internal radius r. The rails 30 and 31 are identical in cross-section, the cross-sectional shape of which is best illustrated in FIGURE 4.

Referring now to the cross-section of the rail, as illustrated in FIGURE 4, a typical rail section according to the present invention comprises an integral elongated extruded metal element, extruded of a suitable material, and provided with a generally rectangular hollow section 35 formed of an external inverted U-shaped part 36, the legs 36a, 36b of which form spaced vertical side walls of the Jail, and the bight 360 of which forms an upper wall of rail. Spaced lower wall portions 37 extend from the lower end of the legs toward each other and an internal inverted U-shaped part 38 is disposed within the external U-shaped part extending between the wall portions 37 and inter-' connecting the wall portions 37. Opposed longitudinally extending ribs 39 are provided on the inside of the internal U-shaped part 38 to define a T-slot 40' within the internal U-shaped part. In a preferred embodiment of the rail cross-section, as illustrated in FIGURE 4, the lower corner of the confronting edges of the spaced lower wall portions 37 are chamfered as illustrated at 41.

Referring now to the embodiment of a railing system as illustrated in FIGURES 2, 5, and 7, the railing system therein illustrated includes interconnected upper and intermediate rails 30 and 31, identical to the rails 30 and 31 heretofore described in the embodiment of FIG- URES 1, 4, and 6, and a lower rail 45, interconnected with vertically-positioned square posts 46. The post 46 may be secured to the floor of a building by suitable floor mounts '33. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the post 46, of square, external, cross-section may be formed of extruded aluminum or other suitable material and provided with rounded corners 47. Additionally the inner center of the walls of the square post 46 may be provided with an arcuate recess 48 of a radius r, equal to the inner radius r of the round post 32, thereby to facilitate the use of the same top connector for both round and square posts. In the illustrated embodiment the lower rail 45 is an open bottom railing of generally inverted U-shaped cross-section, as best illustrated in FIGURE 5, and provided with confronting flanges 49 extending from the lower edges of the vertical'sidewalls 0f the U-shaped portion.

FIGURE 3 illustrates a typical railing system at the edge of stairs, and provides upper and intermediate rails 53, 54, interconnected with vertical posts 55. The upper rail 53 is provided with a cross-section identical to rails 30 and 31 in the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2, and illustrated in FIGURE 4. The intermediate rail 45 may be provided with a suitable cross-section either as illustrated in FIGURE 4 or 5. Moreover, the posts 55 may be square or circular as desired for the authentic appearance of the railing system. The rails 53 and 54 have an intermediate portion 53a, 54a inclined to the horizontal to provide for the slope of the stairs.

For interconnecting an upper rail 30* to a square or round post, illustrated as a round post 32 in FIGURE 8, there is provided a top connector 90, best illustrated in FIGURES 8, 9 and 10. Therein illustrated, the top connector includes an expandable leaf member 91 formed of a cylindrical element provided with a plurality of grooves or axial cuts 92, FIGURE 10, to separate the leaf member 91 into a plurality of leafs 91a, 91b, 91c, and 91d, which are expandable relative to each other. The outer diameter of the contracted leaf member 91 is slightly less than the radius r of the round or square posts. The leaf member 91 is provided with a tapered wedge 93 on its inner surface forming a camming surface. An axial aperture 94 is provided through the bottom surface of the leaf member 91. A tapered mandrel 95 forms a cam and is adapted to wedge axially against the tapered wedge camming surface 93 of the leaf member to expand the individual leafs 91a, 91b, 91c, and 91d. A lower disc nut 96 and an Allen screw 97 are effective to wedge the mandrel 95 axially relative to the leaf member 91. A chamfer 96a on the lower edge of the nut 96 aids in leading the top connector '96 easily into the aperture of the post. The outer cylindrical sidewall of the leaf member 91 may be knurled, as at 98, to provide for biting of the leafs 91a, 91b, 91c, and 91d into the inner surface of the post 32. The leafs 91a, 91b, 91c, and 91d may be retained together to form a one-piece unitary member 91. In the illustrated embodiment the leaf member 91 is provided with a circumferential groove 99 retaining an elastic band 100 which serves to maintain the leafs 91a, 91b, 91c, and 91d in proper position. 'It is understood that the unity of leaf members 91 may also be retained to provide a one-piece member 91 by cutting three of the grooves 92 so that they do not slice all the way to the bottom of the cylinder, while the fourth one of the grooves 92 does slice through the member 91. In this manner the expandability of the leaf member can be achieved while maintaining a one-piece member.

To provide for connection with the T-slot 40 of the rail 30, there is provided an elongated slide member 104. The slide member 104 is of somewhat inverted T-shaped cross-section, including a head portion 105 and a shank portion 106. The shank portion is insertible between the ribs 39, forming the T-slot 40 in the lower surface of the rail 30. Portions of the shank portion 106 are recessed, as at 107, to accommodate a pair of latch members 108. The latch members 108 are carried by the slide member 104 and are also insertible through the neck of the T-slot 40 between the ribs 39 thereof. The latch members 108 are pivotal within the head of the T-slot, as indicated in phantom in FIGURE 9, to lock therewithin. Screws 109 extend from the lower surface of the slide member 104 into threaded openings 110 (FIGURE 10) in the latch members 108. The threaded openings 110 in the latch members 108 are deformed sufiiciently, for example by peening, to provide a tight threaded fit between the screws 109 with the threaded openings 110. This is effective to initially pivot the latch members 108 to their locked position upon turning the screws 109 in a tightening direction. The Allen screw 97 extends through the slide member 104, with its head 97a countersunk into the shank portion 106 of the slide member, thereby to secure the slide member 104 with the leaf member 91.

From the above detailed description of the top connector 90, the operation of the top connector is believed clear. However, briefly, it will be understood that in operation the top connector 90 is first inserted with the leaf member 91 into the top opening of a post, such as the illustrated round post 32. It is understood that the top connector is equally applicable with the square post 46, FIG- URE 7. Thereafter the Allen screw 97' is tightened, driving the wedge mandrel 95 downward relative to the tapered wedge surface 93 of the leaf member 91 and expanding the leafs 91a, 91b, 91c, and 91d relative to each other to cause the leafs to grip the inner surface of the post. Thereafter, with the latch members 108 in the unlatched position, as illustrated in solid in FIGURE 9, the top rail 30 is inserted over the top connector, the shank portion 106 of the slide member 104 passing into the head of the T-slot 40. The screws 109 are then tightened, initial turning of the screws 109 being effective to rotate the latch members 108 into a latch position, as indicated in phantom in FIGURE 9.

Although the present invention has been described by reference to various embodiments and modifications, it will be apparent that numerous other modifications and embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art which will fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention. I

What is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A rail system including a vertical post; a rail having a T-slot formed in its lower surface; and a top connector connecting said rails to the top of said post and including a plurality of leaves expandable relative to each other and provided with wedge means on their inner surface forming a camming surface and inserted within the top of said posts, a mandrel wedge forming a cam wedged against said camming surface and expanding said leaves against the inner surface of said post, means camming said mandrel wedge into engagement with said camming surface of said leaves, an elongated slide member of generally-inverted T-shaped cross-section, including a head and a shank, said shank being insertible through the neck of said T-slot, latch members carried by said slide member insertible through the neck of said T-slot and pivotal within the head of said T-slot to lock within said T-slot, and screw means extending through said slide member threadingly engaged in threaded apertures in said latch members and tightened to clamp said neck of said T-slot between the head of said T-shaped slide member and said latch members.

2. A rail system as set forth in claim 1 above wherein the threaded connection between said screws and said latch members are deformed silfliciently to provide a tight threaded fit to provide for initial pivoting of said latch members within said head of said T-slot.

3. A rail system including a vertical post; a rail having a T-slot formed in its lower surface defined by inwardly extending ribs; and a top connector connecting said rail to the top of said post and including an expandable leaf member formed of a cylindrical element provided with a plurality of axial cuts to separate said leaf member into a plurality of leaves expandable relative to each other, said leaf member being provided with a tapered wedge means on its inner surface forming a camming surface; a tapered mandrel forming a cam adapted to the wedge axially against the camming surface; an elongated slide member of somewhat inverted T-shaped cross-section, including a head and a shank, said shank being insertible through the neck of said T-slot, latch members carried by said slide member insertible through the neck of said T-slot pivotal within the head of said T-slot to lock within said T-slot, and screw means extending through said slide member threadingly engaged in threaded apertures in said latch members and tightened to clamp said ribs between the head of said T-shaped slide member and said latch members.

4. A top connector for interconnecting an upper rail to the top of a post and comprising an expandable leaf member formed of a cylindrical element provided with a plurality of axial cuts to separate said leaf member into a plurality of leaves expandable relative to each other, said leaf member being provided with a tapered wedge means on its inner surface forming a camming surface; a tapered mandrel forming a cam and adapted to be wedged axially against said camming surface; an elongated slide member joined to one of the above mentioned members and having a somewhat inverted T-shaped crosssection including a head and a shank, said shank being insertible through the neck of a T-slot, latch members carried by said slide member insertible through the neck of a T-slot and pivotal therewithin to lock said slide member to a T-slot, and screw means extending through said slide member threadingly engaged in threaded apertures in said latch members.

'5. A top connector as set forth in claim 4 above and additionally including screw means for drawing said leaf member and said mandrel together to expand said leaves relative to each other.

6. A rail system including a vertical post; a rail having a generally-rectangular cross-section comprising an externally-U-shaped part, the legs of which form spaced vertical walls of said rail and the bight of which forms an upper wall of said member, spaced lower wall portions extending from the lower ends of said legs toward each other, an internal U-shaped part disposed within said section between said portions interconnecting said portions, and longitudinally-extending confronting ribs on the inside of said internal Uashaped part to define a T-slot within said internal U-shaped part; and a top connector connecting said rail to the top of said posts and including a plurality of leaves extendable relative to each other and provided with wedge means on their inner surface forming a camming surface and inserted within the top of said post, a mandrel wedge forming a cam and wedged against said camming surface expanding said leaves against the inner surface of said post, means camming said mandrel wedge into engagement with said camming surface of said leaves, and means secured within the T-slot of said rail whereby said rail is secured to said post and including an elongated slide member of somewhat inverted T-shaped cross-section, including a head and a shank, said shank being insertible between the ribs forming said T-slot, latch members carried by said slide member insertible through the neck of said T-slot and pivotal within the head of said T-slot to lock within said T-slot, and screw means extending through said slide member threadingly engaged in threaded apertures in said latch members and tightened to clamp said ribs between the head of said T-shaped slide member and said latch members.

7. A rail system as set forth in claim 6 above wherein the threaded connection between said screws and said latch members are deformed sufficiently to provide a tight threaded fit to provide for initial pivoting of said latch members within said head of said T-slot.

8. A top connector for connecting an upper rail to the top of a post and comprising a plurality of leaves expandable relative to each other and provided with wedge means on their inner surface forming a camming surface adapted to be inserted within the top of a post, a mandrel wedge forming a cam and wedged against said camming surface expanding said leaves against the inner surface of said post, means camming said mandrel wedge into engagement with said camming surfaces of said leaves, and means for securing said top connector within a' T-slot of a rail and including 'an elongated slide member of somewhat inverted T-shaped cross-section including a head and a shank, latch members carried by said slide member for insertion through the neck of a T-slot and pivotal therewithin to lock within a T-slot, and screw means extending through said slide member threadingly engaged in threaded apertures in said latch members.

9. A top connector as set forth in claim 8 above wherein the threaded connection between said screws and said latch members are deformed sutficiently to provide a tight threaded fit to provide for initial pivoting of said latch member upon initial rotation of said screw.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 617,993 1/1899 Ploeger 25622 1,746,672 2/ 1930 Nylund et a1. 52-704 X 2,095,832 10/1937 Retzke 52-296 8 Gage ;2 52-296 Le Van 2.8754 Brown 52704 X Lagervall 2.8754 Blum 25631 Blum 25665 Blum 25665 Woodward 25667 Buehler 25665 Opie 256--65 Blum 25665 Blum.

Haas 52704 X McMullin 25 668 X DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

HARRISON L. MOSEL-EY, Examiner.

D. L. TAYLOR, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A RAIL SYSTEM INCLUDING A VERTICAL POST; A RAIL HAVING A T-SLOT FORMED IN ITS LOWER SURFACE; AND A TOP CONNECTOR CONNECTING SAID RAILS TO THE TOP OF SAID POST AND INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF LEAVES EXPANDABLE RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER AND PROVIDED WITH WEDGE MEANS ON THEIR INNER SURFACE FORMING A CAMMING SURFACE AND INSERTED WITHIN THE TOP OF SAID POSTS, A MANDREL WEDGE FORMING A CAM WEDGED AGAINST SAID CAMMING SURFACE AND EXPANDING SAID LEAVES AGAINST THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID POST, MEANS CAMMING SAID MANDREL WEDGE INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CAMMING SURFACE OF SAID LEAVES, AN ELONGATED SLIDE MEMBER OF GENERALLY-INVERTED T-SHAPED CROSS-SECTION, INCLUDING A HEAD AND A SHANK, SAID SHANK BEING INSERTIBLE THROUGH THE NECK OF SAID T-SLOT, LATCH MEMBERS CARRIED BY SAID SLIDE MEMBER INSERTIBLE THROUGH THE NECK OF SAID T-SLOT AND PIVOTAL WITHIN THE HEAD OF SAID T-SLOT TO LOCK WITHIN SAID T-SLOT, AND SCREW MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SLIDE MEMBER THREADINGLY ENGAGED IN THREADED APERTURES IN SAID LATCH MEMBERS AND TIGHTENED TO CLAMP SAID NECK OF SAID T-SLOT BETWEEN THE HEAD OF SAID T-SHAPED SLIDE MEMBER AND SAID LATCH MEMBERS. 